Dig Deeper - Sunday 4th October

Sermon Reflection: Harvest Sunday

Matthew 6:25-34

Link to service

Dig Deeper notes from Sunday 4th October service -           

It’s not easy to avoid worry. Worries can be small and a niggling thought, or they can be really big and make us feel incredibly anxious and unable to take the next step forward.

We might worry about the future, our family and friends, our health, whether we’re good enough or clever enough. We might worry about how we’re getting on with people at school or at work. Some people worry about being hungry. There are farmers worrying about the next harvest, and about how climate change is making it harder for them to grow their crops.

But Jesus says: ‘do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.’ He isn’t telling us off in these verses. He’s not angry that we get worried and concerned about things. He cares about everything we care about, He knows it can be hard for us, and He loves us unconditionally.

Jesus wants to help us live lives which are free from worry by helping us to redirect our thoughts and attention to God’s trustworthy character. He is teaching us to trust in Him and to remember our identity in Him! He shows us that we are all valuable to God - it says we are more valuable than the birds and the flowers, and they are provided for by God. He’s not going to leave us to fend for ourselves. He is our provider. He’s reminding us that with Him at the centre, we can have peace, hope, and joy, in the face of difficult times!

Jesus says, ‘Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’. But how can we seek His kingdom first? And how does that actually help?

We need to ask ourselves whether we’re truly putting God first. Where does most of our energy go? What are we prioritising in our lives? Seeking His kingdom first looks like inviting God into all you have to do, talking to Him throughout the day, purposefully starting your day in prayer and in the Bible rather than on your phone, asking for His wisdom before making any decision, being open to Him changing your plans, trusting that He has the best plan for your life, focusing on Him when worries pop into your mind, choosing to trust Him when life gets challenging. Seeking His kingdom first might mean you have to make some difficult decisions.

Jesus never said that following Him and living His way would be easy. But He did promise that He would never leave us to do any of it on our own. By putting God first, we become people who are secure in our identity, people who are being transformed into the likeness of Christ, people who want to partner with God in the work He is doing in the world, and people who are fruitful because we are abiding in Him.

Reflection Questions:

1.     What is worrying or concerning you at the moment?

2.     How easy do you find it to take those worries to God in prayer? Is prayer your first response to worry?

3.     Do you feel like you’re seeking God’s kingdom first? Is your relationship with Him your priority?

4.     What change could you make this week in order to spend more time with God?

5.     Where can you see God working at the moment? How can you partner with Him in the work He is doing?

Prayer:

Jesus, help us to give our worries to you. Renew our faith and help us to trust in your loving kindness. Remind us that you are our Rock, our secure foundation. Help us to seek your kingdom first and show us how to build your kingdom of justice and love here on earth. Amen.